Dixon Speaks

Ken Palmer, The Giant Insider

12/14/2002

"I was unable to get back Tuesday," WR Ron Dixon said. "I was supposed to be back to
treatment on Tuesday and I didn't make it."

Ron Dixon spoke publicly for the first time today since he was suspended on
Wednesday for one week for conduct detrimental to the team. Fassel suspended
Dixon because the third-year wide receiver had been late for team meetings,
missed scheduled treatments with the team's medical staff and failed to show
up for scheduled doctors' appointments.

"Like I told coach Fassel, I don't want to make excuses," Dixon said. "I
tried to do something I obviously didn't have time to do. I didn't make it on
time for a team meeting, and he did what he felt was necessary."

Fassel said Dixon was excused Monday so he could travel to Jackson, Tenn.
Dixon hopes to continue working toward his degree at Lambuth University this
offseason. He said he is 16 hours shy of graduation. But he did not return for
treatment on his injured knee on Tuesday or attend a mandatory team meeting
on Wednesday.

"I was unable to get back Tuesday," Dixon said. "I was supposed to be back to
treatment on Tuesday and I didn't make it."

When told that Fassel said he missed the meeting on Wednesday, Dixon said,
"That's the problem that we have now - the suspension, because I came in late
on Wednesday."

Dixon said "there were some things that came up," but declined to be
specific. He was asked if he told Fassel about those other things.

"I didn't even go into it with him," Dixon said. "I wasn't trying to make
excuses. He did what he felt was necessary, and I have to live with it. I'm
not going to make excuses. What happened, happened, and I'm just going to
have to deal with it."

Dixon underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Thursday, a procedure
that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season. He said he
wants to focus on rehabbing his knee, and not the suspension.

Asked if he was worried about how Fassel would perceive him for the future,
Dixon said, "What I'm worried about is my knee. Nothing is going to go
forward if my knee is not in tip-top condition."